"...but I want to hear the SOB deny it."

There is an old story out there about LBJ and his first congressional race. As the story goes, he told his campaign manager to start circulating a story about his opposition (some kind of livestock producer) being just bit too "fond" of his animals. (I am cleaning this story up a bit to minimize the offensiveness.)

His campaign manager said something to the effect of "Jeesh, Lyndon, nobody is gonna believe this!" and Johnson supposedly said:

"I know that, but I want to hear the SOB deny it."

Hubby and I both do a fair amount of campaign work locally, and one of the things we joke about with any candidate we manage is using the campaign slogan, "I never killed anyone." A friend of ours came back from a Central American vacation and told us about a Presidential campaign someplace where that was the slogan. Made us laugh at the time, but it does give pause for thought because it really IS the same sort of thing LBJ was doing.

We call it "swiftboating," we call it spin, we call it part of politics. We can maybe get a giggle out of hearing about it in the past or in the context of someplace else, but it isn't quite so amusing when it starts hurting people outside the political arena. You kind of figure that if somebody signs up to run for office they have to be prepared for whatever gets thrown at them, but what about everybody ELSE?

EVERY day, I go to work (I am off sick today, btw. I blew an ankle on Wed and I am not getting around too well...) in a government office. I am a small time government wonk, but I am connected to politics. I am "seen" as a politician by some folks, and let me tell you, there are more than a few that don't think too highly of ANYONE (from either party) because they think we are ALL liars,

Earlier, I posted a poll about the impact DU thinks this most recent Kantor flap will have in Indiana. There are a few comments in there that are pretty thoughtful, but what struck me was how many of us are so quick to expect the absolute worst possible behavior out of campaigns--No matter who it is! (I include myself in that, btw, so don't think I'm smacking anyone in particular around.)

Our entire political culture has embraced the attitude of early LBJ and somebody running for El Presidente in some Central American nation.

"...but I want to hear the SOB deny it."

We are screwing ourselves with this kind of stuff. We wonder why so few voters see the Dems are superior yet we run campaigns that lie cheat and steal. I dunno if Kantor said it, dunno if the tape was doctored, dunno what his attitudes really are when he's at home in his element. I do know that now there are people out there waiting for him to deny it and people out there that will not accept anything anyone says about the veracity of it all because they made their mind up as soon as they heard about it.

"...but I want to hear the SOB deny it."

I really wonder how much longer we Democrats can keep this shit up and stay viable.



Laura

on edit: So sorry for the excessive use of bold. I forgot to turn it off originally!

Are Dems viable now? Look at recent polls that show McSame head to head (w/in MOE) with both candidates. If I were the anti-war prez party right now with those numbers I'd hang my head.

;) :evilgrin:

I've never been accused of being a politician for it...

Great post.

K & R 'd

PM me if you need some help with your ankle.

Hope it heals up soon regardless.

:hug:

I wasn't wrestling a wild alligator. I wasn't sky diving or snowboarding. I wasn't even wrestling a wild alligator WHILE snowboarding. I was walking down my front steps with hubby and kidlette. Four lousy steps, and I tripped stepping ont the last one!

Hubby was turning around to kiss me goodbye, and he thought he knocked me over. He's a good kisser, but that really does seem like self flattery to me...

Anyhow, I'm healing up even if I am limping around. I keep thinking of that old toast:

May those who love us, love us,
and those who don't may their hearts be turned.
If their hearts can't be turned,
may they turn their ankles So we may know them by their limping...


Bless you, dear, for your offer of help, but I think I'll live. If you can manage do anything to help the DNC, I'd sure appreciate that a bunch!

:hi:


Laura

:kick: